In order to care for sutures after surgery, you’ll need:
- Liquid Dial soap
- Q-tips
- Antibiotic ointment or Vaseline
In order to assure proper healing of your wound, we recommend the following wound care measures.
For Sutures:
- The wound must be kept dry for the first 24 hours after the surgery. After 24 hours you may shower or bathe and get the wound wet.
- Remove the old bandage and gently clean off any crusted material using a clean Q-tip soaked in liquid Dial soap and water. If there is a thick crust, you may need to apply the soap solution and allow it to soak the crust for five minutes in order to soften the adherent material. The crust should then be gently removed with the Q-tip.
- Dry the area with a dry Q-tip and then apply the antibacterial ointment or Vaseline to the wound area.
- If needed, cover the area with a Band-Aid. We recommend leaving the Band-Aid off if possible to let your wound heal without the irritation of a Band-Aid.
- Watch for any signs of infection or allergic reactions to the antibacterial ointments. Please call the office if you notice any of these problems.